My family & I have ordered both in-house & take-out from D.Z. Akins ever since it opened in 1980. Although we found it best during the time the owner & founder would always walk through & greet customers, we continue to cater this restaurant, although not the same as when he was personally involved. However, the menu remains good but the prices have gone up considerably, & the plates smaller. We especially miss those breakfasts of old, including the low price! We still rate D.Z. Akins highly, but do miss its old ways, & in various ways! A thought for consideration: Be sure to wisely consider the traits of the food handlers seriously prior to hiring... ~ From P.A.L. read more

DZ AKINS! I highly recommend!!! The very best deli in San Diego Diego. Food: A+ Service: A+ Value: A+ read more

but has been and I went on Thursday to DC Atkins for lunch. I have grown up going to really good deli in New York as well as Los Angeles Angeles. My mother is half Ashkenazi. My father was part of Sephardic. I know what the food supposed to be like. The lunch was fine. Then, I went to the deli counter to buy some things to take home one of the things I purchased was a half a loaf of pumpernickel I have been craving pumpernickel this morning. It was moldy. Obviously not made fresh. I purchased a whole smoked white fish... Over $42 when I opened it today to eat some of it, I realized the tail was sticking up curved. It wasn't fresh. I have smoked fish for over 40 years and I know when I'm looking at something that is not fresh. It a so-so taste. DZ. Akins is the only deli I know of in San Diego, where you can purchase these things. To charge so much for things, that are not fresh is robbery. I don't know if I'll be coming back to this restaurant ever again read more

A community staple and long-time family favorite, DZ Akin's has been serving up New York-style deli favorites for over 45 years. When you're in the mood for something simple, hearty, and tasty, this is the place to go. The food is straightforward and filling, with big portions. I love the homemade pickles they bring to your table for free upon request. There's also a full bakery, delicatessen, and gift shop located in the front of the restaurant. Even though the restaurant itself has expanded over the years, it still has a cozy atmosphere, with nostalgic murals and signed photos of local celebrities throughout the years decorating the interior. The staff are genuinely welcoming and can make suggestions about the menu if you're feeling unsure. In a world of generic chain restaurants and trendy social media aesthetics, DZ Akin's is a true gem. I hope they enjoy many more years serving our community. read more

DZ Akin's - Three Bean Salad - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

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The Bakery is great if you get to it in the morning esp. Cute gift shop. Took a few minutes to order waters then also to get waters. I specifically asked for lemon and, none. Service was slow, they bring your "breads" (toast, muffin) out separate from the food and that took 15 minutes after our food had arrived. And we were nearly done. The eggs were supposed to be over medium, got over hard. The corned beef and fruit were great. Table of 2. read more

DZ Akin's - Looking towards bakery (front). - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

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Menu is huge!!! It has a restaurant with a deli/market attached. All authentic Jewish foods made from scratch with love. Portion sizes the usual standard Jewish fare which means bring your appetite! I love that they serve pickles as an appetizer and these pickles are superb. I got an omelette with potatoes and a bagel with cream cheese and everything exceeded my expectations. Seasoned well. Bagel was fresh and it came with plenty of schmear. Unfortunately it's quite the drive for me but when I'm in the area I will be stopping again. I found a new-go-to. read more

DZ Akin's - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

Located off of Alvarado rd. Came in the evening. Plenty of parking and seating inside. A few seats outside. The service is good. Got seated quickly. Server was very helpful. Always checked up on us. Got the fried chicken with country potatoes and a grilled cheese with onion rings. I'm the grilled cheese, I added bacon and avocado. The fried chicken was good. Crispy and juicy inside. The grilled cheese was good. Bacon was crispy and the bread was fried well. Added the gravy on everything made it that much more better. Will definitely be coming back. On the way out, you walk by the dessert section of the restaurant. Got dessert to go. read more

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We came here to eat dinner as we were excited to try the food. We came in and were sat immediately. We met our waiter who was very nice. We were brought fresh half sour pickles. That was very nice of them. However, they were just ok. We then ordered our food. I got the Reuben and my wife got a Reuben with pastrami. We also ordered the potato's latkes. The food came fast and we were excited. The Reuben was good. Corn beef was fatty how it should be. Pastrami was good not better than the corn beef. The meat size was ok. However, again for 20 plus dollars I expected more than meat on 75% of the bread and the other parts empty. The fries were good. Not seasoned much. The potato latkes were a let down for me. They were extremely greasy. They were falling apart which means the oil wasn't hot enough before they put them in. We then went to the dessert side. We got 5 different desserts. We got a tiramisu, baklava, toffee brittle cream filled thing, cannoli, black and white cookie and blue berry scone. The tiramisu was a let down. Strong after taste. Not the best. The baklava was ok. But the best. Toffee brittle cream thing was good but little too sweet. The black and white cookie was dry and not much flavor. The cannoli was ok. Small and not bursting with flavor and the blue berry scone was good. I was kinda disappointed as a whole. The meal alone no dessert was over 104 dollars for 3 sandwiches and latkes. read more

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Ordered tuna salad and got the egg salad which is cheaper. It was good but since it's cheaper I'm owed money. read more

DZ Akin's - I paid for a tuna salad, which is $21.95 and got the egg salad which is worth two dollars less. - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

A true NY style Jewish deli. Not many left in the western US. Had a Rueben and the corned beef melted in your mouth, saurkraut perfect and homemade rye bread so good we bought two loaves to take back to AZ. Service was welcoming, knowledgeable and responsive. Ambience? If you didn't know better you would have thought you were in a NYC deli 40yrs ago! Such a treat! read more

I had a French Dip sandwich and it was delicious!! My friend also had the carrot cake and it was delicious!!

Captain's Log, Stardate 21509.7 This past Friday I set my course for Did Z Akins in La Mesa -- a roadside star on I‑8 that my crew and I had passed a thousand times but never boarded. At long last we beamed down, and the experience surpassed every expectation. From the moment we entered, the atmosphere felt like coming home to a welcoming starbase. The staff treated us with genuine warmth and patience as we navigated a menu full of storied classics. Their attentive service turned a simple meal into a memorable mission. My first officer aka wife enjoyed a superbly composed salad, and chose the Turkey Club -- both delivered with thoughtful care. I began with the biscuits and gravy, a traditional hit that tasted like comforting shore leave. But the true highlight was the patty melt: perfectly seared, with lush caramelized onions and melted cheese that achieved harmony at warp speed. It was, without hyperbole, the best patty melt I've encountered in this quadrant. Each bite was a cascade of flavor that felt like discovering a thriving new world. This kitchen knows how to respect ingredients and execute classics flawlessly. No extra condiments were necessary -- the craftsmanship spoke for itself. DZ Akins is now a plotted course for every future convoy through I‑8. Highly recommended for anyone seeking honest, stellar diner fare and service that treats you like family among the stars. Captain 619, stay salty my friends! read more

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Wow, it took us a long time to finally try this place! We are about 1hr 20min depending on traffic from this place. We arrived around 6:30-7pm on a Friday. It was quite busy, it almost looked like a full house. As soon as you enter you will see the gift shop off to the right and in front is a deli case and bakery case. Off to the left you will find the cashier. We were seated just after a few minutes waiting at the cashier. I felt this area was congested with people coming from the deli/bakery section and then people coming to the register to pay for their meal. The decor is dated and the walls are lined with pic's of celebrities who had visited the restaurant. We were a bit overwhelmed with the menu. After few minutes of looking over the menu I went with the country steak with over easy eggs, steak fries and a bagel with cream cheese. I saw the list of desserts! I was looking forward to dessert! I'm glad I had ordered the gravy on the side. The gravy was not a flavor I was expecting. My husband liked it, and I liked his gravy for his meal. Not only was my gravy not the flavor I was looking to try on my Country Steak, but my Country steak was not crispy. Although the country steak had great flavor! The egg was cooked perfectly . I never did get my bagel during my meal but I did request to go. I had it the next morning and it was soft and the cream cheese was basic, but good. We were stuffed so we decided no dessert this time around. Service was good, it could have been better. Our server was busy and catered to the table behind us but only after dropping our food and checking with us one time. He lost us I think even though he served the table behind us. Thankfully he was nice because that could have affected the rating too. read more

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This was my 1st visit here. Often pass by it on the freeway. This place is huge with a large dining area, bakery, and deli. The hostess was friendly and quickly sat us. Our server Veronica was very friendly and helpful. She recommended the Reuben sandwich which I ended up going with with a side of onion rings. The Reuben was okay for me compared to some really good ones that I've had. The onion rings were really good. My husband went with the Ortega roast beef with a side of steak fries. He really enjoyed it. The roast beef had good flavor. After we stopped at the bakery and bought some desserts to go. I'm excited to try the homemade ding dong. read more

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Stopped by DZ Akin's, a classic Jewish deli, because my boyfriend has a big sweet tooth and wanted to try their bakery items and wow, their menu is huge! He loved everything we picked out, especially the German chocolate ding dong, carrot cake, and cannolis. It does get pretty busy but you take a number and wait to be called to order. The line does move along pretty quickly. We also tried the lox bagel. It had a generous amount of cream cheese, just wasn't my personal favorite, but I'm definitely excited to come back and try more. The staff was friendly too. One of the ladies joked we'd be back the next day, and while it wasn't the next day, we did come back a week later for more goodies. I've got my eye on the tres leches cake next, but heads up, they don't serve it by the slice. If you've got a sweet tooth, this is definitely a spot to check out! read more

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This Jewish Delicatessen has been my favorite for well over 50 years. Now that I'm older, I only go once in a while because too much food. I have to go with a girlfriend who likes pastrami. I give this place five stars always. And I'm not Jewish. I'm Italian. read more

DZ Akins of D.Z. Akin's Deli are Zvika and Debbie Akin, the married couple who founded the iconic San Diego Jewish deli in 1980. The "D.Z." in the name stands for their first names. This couple met in LA, where there are over a dozen Jewish delis but realized very few in San Diego and that's the beginning of the DZ Akins deli saga...from LA to San Deigo. This is my overdue review for my multiple visits to DZ Akins, a restaurant, deli, bakery and caterer in La Mesa, the eastern area of San Diego. Plenty of free parking in the lot. This deli has been here since 1980, has undergone some renovations to increase indoor seating but I did notice no windows and the low hanging ceiling which did not appeal to me and only heightened my claustrophobia. Although the diners were lively, it seemed crowded stuffy and lacked fresh air...not a particularly pleasant ambiance. I was glad there were umbrella shaded patio seating where I can enjoy the fresh air, blue skies and sunshine with my baby Fendi was a lovely ambience. Service staff and waitress were all accommodating, nice and helpful. This deli's claim of fame are their soups and sandwiches all New York deli style. My deli order usual: matzo ball soup, no noodles, no chicken, only matzo ball, carrots and broth. A pastrami overstuffed and sky high. After the first soup tasting, it hit the spot, so flavorful, yet clear and cleaning tasting. The matzo ball was made just right, with no taste of chicken fat, as I have tasted at other delis. The carrots cooked perfectly, not too soft or hard, looked and tasted fresh. The pastrami Reuben was half pastrami and corned beef, not too fatty, seasoned perfectly and just delish with a schmear of french mustard. Of course, I over ordered because my eyes are larger than my tummy, so I finished the soup but only had a bite of the sandwich and boxed it Togo. Next time, will order the half portions. Every time I was here, I order and eat first and had plans for a visit to the bakery. After feeling so full, I lost interest on ordering any more food, let alone goodies from the bakery, therefore cannot comment on it but if the food I had was delish , I have no doubt the baked goods are fantastic. Worth a visit. Recommend read more

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Our family has dined here for decades and will keep coming back! We are obsessed with the pickles, Reuben, pastrami, sweet and sour soup, barley soup, and much more. Service is excellent! Our server this past visit was above and beyond with anticipating our needs by providing a larger booth for our party, timing was perfect for refills and service. Dining here feels like going to your family's house for some comfort home cooking. Always save room or plan to take a box of baked goodies home with you! Also gift shop is full of eclectic items for any occasion. read more

DZ Akin's - Interior - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

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Bakery pastries bought for a 16th birthday celebration were sub par and guests had a hard time eating them. Waste of money. they fell apart when we tried to eat them, tasted bland, and were extremely messy, had to throw out the majority. ... napoleons and an eclairs... and on top of that, the woman behind the counter was rude. I asked a question. She ignored me through the bag on the counter after she box them, and never interacted with me... never again. read more

After experiencing excellent cold cut and salad platters from DZ Akin's at a funeral luncheon, we decided to meet friends here for dinner on a Sunday evening. There are several dining rooms with booths and tables, and a single cashier station for all payments. [Full Disclosure: We enjoyed the best Jewish delis when we lived back East and worked in Manhattan.] Based on recommendations, my wife looked forward to the Beef Liver and Onions (2/5 $21.95). It was a disappointment. The grilled beef liver was a generous amount smothered in grilled onions, but the liver was overcooked and dry. We asked for vegetables rather than mashed potatoes. They were undercooked and flavorless. I opted for a sandwich -- Hot Corned Beef, Swiss, Cole Slaw served open-faced on an onion roll with Russian Dressing (3/5 $20.95). Sorry to say, the corned beef was not hot, and melted Swiss cheese would an improvement. The onion roll was very good. I did enjoy the side of Potato Salad (4/5). Black coffee was weak (2/5), and our server was inattentive with refills. We asked our server about the cheesecake for dessert -- specifically, was it a true New York style cheesecake. She told us it was, and we ordered a slice to share with cherries to share. Sorry, but the Cheesecake (2/5 $11.95) was not authentic New York cheesecake ... and overpriced for the slice. Before leaving, we stopped at the deli cases and bought some Chopped Chicken Livers (3/5) and Cole Slaw (4/5) to go. So ... overall our experience with DZ Akin's has been Fair. It is more diner than Jewish deli. That said, however, we look forward to trying it for breakfast. read more

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The server makes all the difference. Darik was great and extremely helpful. He answered all of the questions. He made sure that the ice tea glasses were always filled. He had a terrific sense of humor. The food is still good. The portions are large. The latkes are not as good as home made. The sweet and sour cabbage soup was excellent. The potatoes knish is missing something. The sandwiches are very good. Darik made a nice night out with friends an easy experience. read more

DZ Akin's - Hotcakes at DZ Akins - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

This is a San Diego Staple, a go-to place with there home style food, atmosphere and bakery are wonders to behold. The food is great the staff is amazing I really want to call this place a dinner from yesteryear . read more

We want to bring more family here and walked around 6pm fairly busy in the dining rooms For a Monday night. Are server was Linda again and she was patient with everyone. The soup and bread came out first man a huge pile of butter was next to a stack of assorted breads. Gee's that soup chicken an dumpling was tasty and so good We tasted it Next time I'm getting the soup of the day We were 4 of us so it was Linda brought our drinks 3 root beers and waters for all I ordered Chicken Salad 1 scoop It was big And cole slaw lettuce and tomato's sliced all around 1 half of the salad with carrots and cucumbers I really was hungry I took home half and my bagel Our niece ordered the chicken melt That was big too She had a side salad She enjoy it too and our buddy ordered Chicken fried steak that steak was gone and a baked potato with all the fixing too We did Our niece got a new job was time to celebrate We got her a brownie we'll share tonite for dessert And cinnamon roll for her breakfast And we got peanut butter cookie And apple danish for our buddy For his coffee in the morning read more

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Solid. Great food. Exactly what you world expect. Portions are large (too large) but people like that. Service is also aligned with the deli-vibe . Nice people read more

Thoroughly enjoyed our recent visit to DZ Akins. My San Diego based son took us here for a preflight breakfast, and were happy he did. Being mid-morning Monday it was not crowded. We were met immediately by our server who was excellent throughout. I opted for four blintzes, 2 blueberry and 2 cheese, with a single latke on the side. Loved them all. My wife had their Delicatessen Omelet, mainly ham and veggies, with home fries with an everything bagel and was equally happy. Coffee was also very good and our server happily topped them off consistently. I already told my son this is a must stop on our next San Diego visit. read more

I've been coming here for years and they never disappoint. The restaurant is an old New York style coffee shop with a bakery attached. I've tried so many different dishes here I can't remember them all but the biggest standout for me is their pastrami sandwich on rye. Good lord. So good. Tub of pickles on the table is perfect for a couple before your meal comes. Service is great, place is clean and busy. They have a deli where you can get sliced anything to take home. You can get treats at the bakery like cookies of ALL types, cream puffs, eclairs a multitude of cakes (chocolate, cheesecakes,etc) and loaves of just about any kind of bread you want. Exactly what you'd expect from a Jewish bakery. Oh, and they have a cute little gift shop as well. Love coming here for the food and atmosphere. read more

Best Jewish deli ever!! A must eat at place. My go to every time I'm in town. Love the corned beef, matzo ball soup, pickles, and various bakery items!! Friendly staff. Fun music. Not too Lund. Family friendly. read more

DZ Akin's - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

I grew up in a Jewish area of NYC, so my food preferences were established early. I never expected to find a excellent, authentic NY deli in San Diego, but here it is Go for the pastrami, but also enjoy the latkes, the kasha varnishkes, and the NY cheesecake. read more

P I really like getting the pastrami sandwich here. It is really big so I split it with my friend. The service here is the best. These people have been working here for many decades. The ambience is like a Jewish deli. read more

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DZ Akins - We have often frequented this lovely little "restaurant with attitude" - ie. a wonderful attitude of "whatever the customer wants" and this time was no different. My hubby accidentally ordered the beef liver rather than Debbie's (the owner) famous chopped liver. When I came back to share that mistake he made, "Veronica" quickly rectified the situation with that 'can-do wherever you wish' attitude we appreciate now and always. read more

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The wife and I left the gym and were hungry so we went to DZ Akin's to get some breakfast, I'm born and raised in San Diego and have never eaten here so I wanted to give it a go. My wife ordered the French toast and I ordered the chicken fried steak and egg which came with home fries and the option of toast ,pancakes and biscuits and gravy so I went with the biscuits and gravy and a side of cornedbeef hash. The food was decent I loved the home fries not enough people doing that, the biscuits and gravy was good once you added hot sauce and everything else was just your typical diner fare . We were told the sandwhich special was a Reuben and it was normally priced at 22 dollars and it was 18 on Tuesdays so we grabbed it and that's the best thing there. So get the sandwhich and some home fries. read more

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Looking for Kosher treats?! DZ akins in it. Want a full meal to go with those treats just around the corner from the windows of snacks is a full sit down id say diner style good eats. The service for the most part is great. Catching them on a busy weekend lunch is expected so plan accordingly! read more

I can't believe I waited so long to try this Dreamy Deli location. This small deli & bakery may not look like much from the outside, but it packs a serious punch. It's been a year since I've had an authentic Reuben sandwich; search is over. My family loved their experience. We ordered (2) Reuben combination sandwiches & coleslaw salad & French fries to go. Also their homemade pickles uff... tasty and crunchy! Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious! The Deli is on the Pricey side, but the food will not disappoint 10/10 you're paying for the quality of food and great service. Also try their bakery goods. Ordered a variety of baked pastries and all tasted heavenly. The ingredients were fresh, the sandwiches were generously made, and it's easy to see why this place has such a loyal following. I can't wait to come back, Thanks again for the great Experience! Employees are very hospitable and open to give you recommendations! read more

We had lunch on Friday & were disappointed with the service. We were offered pickles with our soup & sandwich order but they never arrived even after asking for the pickles. Service has been better. read more

Food: Ordered my fav. #97 Whitefish Salad Sandwich on toasted rye- tasted fresh, not too salty. Mac salad just right w/tangy dressing. Service: Server attentive, polite w/a gently efficient vibe. Hostess amenable to my choice of seating. Ambience: Familiar coziness in midst of mild cacophony enveloped by luscious bakery/deli temptations. Highly Recommended read more

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Been coming here for 30 years or so, food is consistently very good. Service is fine, freshly brewed iced tea, biggest traditional Jewish deli in the San Diego area, what more could you ask for? Also tried their fish and chips lunch special which comes with coleslaw and tartar sauce and it was freshly prepared and delicious! Also not heavy, surprisingly light. read more

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From the moment we arrived, the experience was enjoyable. The atmosphere was welcoming, the staff was attentive without being intrusive. I had the Reuben and it was amazing. The pickles are INSANELY good. Jen, our waitress had my water filled before the ice had settled in the bottom of the glass. First Impression of San Diego food was a great one! read more

DZ Akin's - Specials. - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

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Had the breakfast special last week and came back for more! Last visit, Tonya waited on us but we didn't catch her name. I looked for her but did not see her immediately when being seated. We got seated in her section again! She is terrific!! She's fun, friendly and knows the menu! She says she has worked here for 29 years!! This time, we added the cinnamon roll and a cinnamon/raisin bun. OY VEY!! We will be back for those again, too! Love the vibe and the ambience, and of course the 5 star customer service!!!!! And I'll be sure to ask for Tonya next time!!! read more

DZ Akin's - Tonya is fantastic! Ask for her! She makes the dining experience really enjoyable and she has great recommendations!! - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

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Went to DC Akins this morning for breakfast. I had this special scrambled eggs, pancakes, two slices of bacon and a cup of coffee. My wife had two scrambled eggs, bacon, and French toast. Service was outstanding. The gal that helped us was very sweet and very quick and the food was excellent tasting. Ambience is that of an old restaurant with celebrities all over the wall. My only complaint was my meal was $9.99 and my wife's was $17.99. The difference was pancakes versus French toast. Then my coffee was half the price of my breakfast but I guess that's the way it's everywhere nonetheless we got out of there for about $35 can't do that anywhere else and the food service was great. read more

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The food was delicious, it hit the spot. Obviously we have leftovers. The waiter was fantastic and it was super busy. Old fashioned Jewish Deli. Hidden gem. read more

DZ Akin's - Half a turkey sandwich on challah bread, matzah ball soup and miss mash soup. Delicious. - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

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